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Setting your roster week in and week out as a fantasy football manager can be extremely stressful. Decisions are difficult, and sometimes the ultimate solutions aren't always the correct answers.
Which matchups make the most sense? Which player will produce more than another? How do I decide? It can be headache-inducing.
Each and every owner will have their own individual reasons for every move, but intuition and data should be the two major factors when setting weekly rosters. Let's examine in more detail an example of this type of struggle. New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne wasn't supposed to be a fantasy football factor in 2023, but after his Week 1 performance, we must now consider him an option. Or should we?
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Kendrick Bourne Fantasy Football Outlook
The first week of the NFL season brought surprises and unexpected happenings all across the league. This can especially be said in New England, where one of the most unforeseen happenings occurred. Bourne became fantasy-relevant.
Now was this a direct result of circumstance, or was this because he was finally properly being utilized? Perhaps both. Fellow WR and teammate DeVante Parker was not active for the first week of the season, making Bourne's role that much more important. Additionally, it seems as though the change to Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator has greatly impacted the significance of number 84 in the game plans.
Last season, it was obvious that Bourne was being underutilized in the Patriots offense. He is quick, talented, elusive, and someone who has the ability to change the outcome of any given game. In 2023, it is highly likely that O'Brien has realized such, and will make him a focal point of the offensive schemes every week. However, with that said, on a Belichick-coached team, you can rarely count on fantasy relevance from any individual player.
Kendrick Bourne: Wide Receiver Rankings Analysis
Where does Bourne rank when it comes to fantasy wide receivers? Top 50? Top 25? It has only been one week of action, and there are multiple variables that will answer this question. Perhaps the most important is the health of the other weapons on the New England offense. Will Parker play this week? Is Tyquan Thorton finally healthy? Parker is listed as questionable, and Thornton is on the injured reserved list and out until at least Week 5.
Without either of the aforementioned, Bourne became the primary target for QB Mac Jones and had a huge fantasy game. The former San Francisco 49er had over 24 fantasy points by catching six balls for 64 yards and two touchdowns on an eye-popping 11 targets. Have yourself a day Mr. Bourne.
But will this continue? A lot depends on the playing status of Parker, but either way, Bourne has shown he belongs in this new-look Patriots passing attack. Perhaps more importantly, is that Jones trusts KB and will look to him first more than just about anyone.
Should I Start Kendrick Bourne In Week 2 Fantasy Football?
When the team's quarterback states before the upcoming game, "That's my go-to guy", you have to feel pretty good about your fantasy receiver. You also should probably start that guy, or run to get him on the waiver wire. Being the number one target on any offense is a recipe for success in fantasy.
In the first week of the season, Bourne surprised all of us with an outstanding stat line. But will that continue heading into Week 2 when the Pats play on Sunday Night Football against a vulnerable Miami Dolphins secondary?
If Parker remains out, you start Bourne as a WR2/3 and you don't think twice. If Parker is active, you probably are starting KB as a WR3 or flex, and still feeling pretty good about it. This game figures to be a high-scoring affair, and we now know who Mac's favorite target is moving forward. Bourne likely won't win you any fantasy matchups in Week 2, but he will be a nice contributor to any fantasy roster as we head into the second week of the NFL season.
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